Don’t Miss Out

You’re all set!

Look out for our weekly updates soon.

Connect with us

Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.

Sign up now for the latest news, top picks for your kids, and helpful tips.

What parents need to know

Packed with prosocial lessons about fairness, being kind, cooperation, etc.

Positive messages

The town of Birdwell Island is full of diverse people who all model good behavior.

Positive role models

Human and animal characters are all positive, and even though they sometimes make mistakes -- by being selfish or careless -- they always learn from their mistakes.

Violence & scariness

Not applicable

Sexy stuff

Not applicable

Language

Not applicable

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Not applicable

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that kids are often magnetically drawn to stories about Clifford because he's the magical pet every child wishes for. The program is chock-full of positive lessons and likable characters -- and may remind parents of their own childhood fascination with Clifford. The series is full of educational messages on social, emotional, and physical matters.

User reviews

Parents say

Kids say

What's the story?

The magic of CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG is that it puts an extraordinary spin on a normal situation. On the surface, it's a cartoon about a girl and her dog. But the dog happens to be bigger than most houses in town and carries on intelligent conversations with other animal friends. The series follows a cast of animal and human characters through everyday experiences. In each episode, a main character is exposed to or creates some kind of conflict, and then the character resolves the problem and becomes a better person (or pet) as a result.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

Norman Bridwell's Clifford the Big Red Dog series of books dates back to 1963, so most parents with young children probably remember reading the stories themselves. The reason the intrigue spans generations is quite simple: Everybody who loves dogs wishes they had one like Clifford. He's gigantic, playful, and loving, and he's an unfailing friend to owner Emily Elizabeth.

The lessons of each show play out in an uncomplicated, formulaic manner that's easy for young minds to grasp. Sometimes, the lessons are learned by Clifford and his canine pals T-Bone and Cleo. Other times, Emily Elizabeth and her human friends do the growing. Themes have included how to be a good houseguest, why it's important to avoid prejudging others, and taking responsibility for one's actions. As with spin-off series Clifford's Puppy Days, this program's content is based on ten "Big Ideas" that provide the backbone of the show's moral messages. Some of the Big Ideas include helping others, showing respect, playing fair, and sharing -- universal values that kids should be exposed to in the preschool years.

Families can talk about...

Families can talk about the issues that Clifford and his friends have to deal with, including jealousy, honesty, and friendship. Are Clifford and his pals good role models? What lessons do your kids learn from watching the show? What are some of Clifford's "big ideas"?

About our buy links

When you use our links to make a purchase, Common Sense Media earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes. As a nonprofit organization, these funds help us continue providing independent, ad-free services for educators, families, and kids while the price you pay remains the same. Thank you for your support.Read more

Clifford is the perfect show for good role models.

I absolutely love this show, because, it has perfect role models, even when the characters misbehave, they always learn a lesson in the end. At the very end of each episode, they always show a short segment about important life lessons such as being a loyal friend, taking responsibility, and, taking turns. I'll admit it, i'm 21 and I watch this show often, it's so much better than those junk reality shows on MTV, which markets to children my age/generation, they should watch Clifford instead. This show is pure wholesome entertainment.

Get top media picks for your kid's age

Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.

Our Policies

Download our free app

Common Sense is the nation’s leading independent non-profit organization dedicated to empowering kids to thrive in a world of media and technology. Families, educators, and policymakers turn to
Common Sense for unbiased information and trusted advice to help them learn how to harness the positive power of media and technology for all kids.

The Common Sense and Common Sense Media names, associated trademarks, and logos, including the Decider Slider and Age Ratings Bugs,
are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (FEIN 41-2024986).